The key to finding good food and beer matches is to try to harmonise flavours – either through pairing like for like, or contrasting, and IPA is no exception in this regard.
Of course, the actual experience of pairing beer and food is still very much subjective, but here are a few suggestions you could look to trial in your pub.
1. Fried Chicken
Bitterness is undoubtedly the biggest challenge when it comes to matching with IPA, as a high IBU beer can seem astringent when drunk alongside food. Your best bet is to prepare something fried and salty like fried chicken, which will calm down the bitterness and accentuate the malt profile of the beer in question.
2. Grilled steak
With the weather finally starting to warm up, many pubs will be seeking to take advantage of the draw of the barbecue season. Luckily, IPA goes brilliantly with grilled meats such as steaks and burgers, where the caramelisation of the cooked cut will bring out the malty backbone of the beer. Meanwhile the hop flavour ought to provide some much needed umami contrast.
3. Thai Curry
The exotic aromatics of Thai food are a great match for an IPA. Something like a green curry works best, as the citrus flavours of the hops will complement the lemongrass and coriander in the dish. Remember not to make the curry too spicy though, or it will overpower the beer.
4. Blue Cheese Sauce
A good old-fashioned creamy blue cheese sauce is a wonderful thing. It can transform a number of dishes like steaks and pastas, or can make for a great dip for finger food like chicken wings. The texture and mild pungency of a blue cheese sauce will work well with the hop bitterness of an IPA, particularly one of the classic West-Coast American variety.
5. Lemon Tart
Deserts are usually the place where the big, heavy, dark beers come out to play, but if you prefer your beers a little bit on the lighter, hoppy side, why not try a zesty lemon tart, paired with a nice citrus IPA? Don’t go for anything too bitter or too aggressive though; a lightly hopped session strength beer would work best.